Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit St. John’s on Monday to hold discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette. The purpose of the meeting is to make an announcement related to energy security and economic development.
Recent talks about a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy have intensified over the past week. Fréchette is confirmed to be traveling to Newfoundland for the signing of this agreement.
Wakeham’s office released a statement confirming the attendance of Fréchette, along with Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville and Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, Claudine Bouchard, at the event on Monday.
Hydro-Québec has also issued a news release inviting reporters to a closed-door briefing on an announcement regarding Quebec’s energy security, scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. The briefing will be conducted by Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president.
Additionally, a media technical briefing organized by Natural Resources Canada is set to take place in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m.
While specific details remain limited, Wakeham’s office has confirmed that the announcement will occur at 1:45 p.m. in St. John’s. In a late update, it was announced that Prime Minister Carney will also be present at the event.
The new agreement, as revealed by confidential sources, guarantees a transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that capacity to external markets. The agreement also includes a significant increase in electricity allocation for both provinces compared to the previous understanding.
The increased electricity production will involve the development of a more powerful hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and an expansion of the generating capacity at the Churchill Falls plant. Notably, the new agreement incorporates wind power, a component absent from the previous memorandum signed in 2024.
[Image: Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham are making an energy announcement in St. John’s on Monday. (CBC)]
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